On-demand agent dispensing devices and related methods

Abstract

The present disclosure provides on-demand agent dispensing patches, kits and related methods. A flexible patch is configured to provide on-demand dispensing of the agent via compression of the patch. The patch comprises: an adhesive layer to removably couple the patch to a surface; at least one reservoir layer overlying the adhesive layer configured to absorb and retain the agent therein; at least one dispenser layer overlying the at least one reservoir layer comprising a plurality of solid portions and an array of a plurality of openings configured to inhibit evaporation of the agent and control a flow of the agent therefrom upon the compression of the patch; and at least one backer layer between the adhesive layer and the at least one reservoir layer being substantially impervious to the agent. The at least one reservoir layer may be void of the agent, which may be provided in a container.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An on-demand liquid or gelatinous agent dispensing kit, comprising:
 a container containing a volume of a liquid or gelatinous agent; and 
 a flexible patch configured to contain, and provide on-demand dispensing of, the agent via compression of the patch in a thickness direction thereof, the patch comprising:
 an adhesive layer configured to removably couple the patch to a surface, the adhesive layer defining an inner face of the patch; 
 at least one reservoir layer that is configured to absorb and retain the agent therein, the at least one reservoir layer overlying the adhesive layer in the thickness direction; 
 at least one dispenser layer overlying the at least one reservoir layer in the thickness direction comprising a plurality of solid portions and an array of a plurality of openings extending through a thickness thereof, the at least one dispenser layer configured to inhibit evaporation of the agent, and control a flow of the agent from the at least one reservoir layer upon the compression of the patch in the thickness direction, when the agent is contained within the at least one reservoir layer; and 
 at least one backer layer positioned between the adhesive layer and the at least one reservoir layer in the thickness direction, the at least one backer layer being substantially impervious to the agent, 
 wherein the solid portions of the at least one dispenser layer and portions of the at least one reservoir layer underlying the plurality of openings of the at least one dispenser layer define an outer face of the patch, and 
 wherein the at least one reservoir layer is void of the agent absorbed therein. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The kit according to  claim 1 , wherein the adhesive is a biocompatible adhesive. 
     
     
       3. The kit according to  claim 1 , wherein the patch further comprises an inner protective film layer extending over and removably coupled to the adhesive layer. 
     
     
       4. The kit according to  claim 1 , wherein the liquid or gelatinous agent is a disinfectant. 
     
     
       5. The kit according to  claim 4 , wherein the disinfectant comprises ethyl, isopropyl, ethanol (ethyl alcohol), triclosan, triclocarban, benzalkonium chloride, benzethonium chloride or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       6. The kit according to  claim 5 , wherein the disinfectant comprises a dynamic viscosity within the range of about 4 (Pa·s) (m2/s) and about 15 (Pa·s) (m2/s) at 20 degrees Celsius. 
     
     
       7. The kit according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one backer layer is substantially impervious to the agent and to air, and wherein the at least one backer layer comprises a solid sheet of material. 
     
     
       8. The kit according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one dispenser layer comprises a sheet of material that is impervious to the agent and air, and wherein the at least one dispenser layer comprises a polymer layer. 
     
     
       9. The kit according to  claim 1 , wherein the solid portions of the at least one dispenser layer comprise within the range of about 10% and about 65% of the total area of the outer face, wherein the plurality of openings of the at least one dispenser layer comprise an average total area within the range of about 50 mm 2  and about 300 mm 2  at the outer face, and wherein each of the plurality of openings of the at least one dispenser layer comprise a total area within the range of about 0.05 mm 2  and about 0.3 mm 2  at the outer face. 
     
     
       10. The kit according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one reservoir layer comprises one or more layers of polymer fibers, cotton fibers, silicone fibers, hydrogel or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       11. The kit according to  claim 10 , wherein the at least one reservoir layer comprises a fabric layer of non-woven polyethylene fibers, polypropylene fibers or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       12. The kit according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one reservoir layer is configured to absorb and retain within the range of about 2 grams and about 50 grams of the agent, wherein the at least one reservoir layer comprises a detached agent capacity within the range of about 1,000 g/mm 2  and about 2,500 g/mm 2 , and wherein the at least one reservoir layer comprises an agent absorbency rate of at least 5 g/sec for at least the first 5 seconds of water contact. 
     
     
       13. The kit according to  claim 1 , wherein, when the agent is contained within the at least one reservoir layer, the patch is configured such that a compressive force acting in the thickness direction and applied to the outer surface thereof of at least 1 gram/mm 2  causes the agent to flow through the plurality of apertures and onto the outer face and/or an object at the outer face. 
     
     
       14. The kit according to  claim 1 , wherein an inner portion of the patch defines a first maximum thickness, and a peripheral edge portion of the patch extending about the inner portion and defining an outer extent of the patch defines a second thickness that is less than the first thickness, wherein the peripheral edge portion of the patch defining the outer extent of the patch comprises the at least one reservoir layer, the at least one dispenser layer and the at least one backer layer being bonded together. 
     
     
       15. The kit according to  claim 1 , wherein, when the agent is contained within the at least one reservoir layer, the patch is configured such that no more than 5 grams of the agent evaporates over 1.5 hours in an ambient environment of non-moving air at 20 degrees Celsius. 
     
     
       16. The kit according to  claim 1 , wherein the adhesive layer on the outer side of the front face comprises an acrylic-based pressure-sensitive adhesive. 
     
     
       17. The kit according to  claim 1 , wherein the container is separate and distinct from the flexible patch. 
     
     
       18. The kit according to  claim 1 , wherein the container is integrated within, or coupled to, the flexible patch. 
     
     
       19. The kit according to  claim 18 , wherein the container is a manually breakable shell or envelope that is contained within the flexible patch. 
     
     
       20. The kit according to  claim 19 , wherein the manually breakable shell or envelope is a manually breakable polymer shell or container. 
     
     
       21. The kit according to  claim 19 , wherein the agent is a disinfectant. 
     
     
       22. The kit according to  claim 21 , wherein the disinfectant is a biocompatible disinfectant. 
     
     
       23. The kit according to  claim 21 , wherein the disinfectant comprises ethyl, isopropyl, ethanol (ethyl alcohol), triclosan, triclocarban, benzalkonium chloride, benzethonium chloride or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       24. The kit according to  claim 23 , wherein the disinfectant comprises a dynamic viscosity within the range of about 4 (Pa·s) (m2/s) and about 15 (Pa·s) (m2/s) at 20 degrees Celsius. 
     
     
       25. The kit according to  claim 23 , wherein the at least one backer layer is substantially impervious to the agent, and wherein the at least one backer layer comprises a solid sheet of material. 
     
     
       26. The kit according to  claim 25 , wherein the at least one reservoir layer comprises one or more layers of polymer fibers, cotton fibers, silicone fibers, hydrogel or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       27. The kit according to  claim 25 , wherein the at least one reservoir layer comprises a fabric layer of non-woven polyethylene fibers, polypropylene fibers or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       28. The kit according to  claim 25 , wherein the at least one backer layer is substantially impervious to air. 
     
     
       29. The kit according to  claim 19 , wherein the manually breakable shell or envelope is positioned adjacent to the at least one reservoir layer. 
     
     
       30. The kit according to  claim 19 , wherein the agent is a perfume, insect repellant, lotion, antiperspirant, lubricant, medicant, vitamin, cannabinoid or food product. 
     
     
       31. The kit according to  claim 1 , wherein the inner face and the outer face are substantially opposing faces of the patch in the thickness direction. 
     
     
       32. The kit according to  claim 1 , wherein the container is positioned within the flexible patch. 
     
     
       33. The kit according to  claim 32 , wherein the container is a manually breakable. 
     
     
       34. The kit according to  claim 1 , wherein the agent is a perfume, insect repellant, lotion, antiperspirant, lubricant, medicant, vitamin, cannabinoid or food product.